Flexible door and mechanism for operating the same



Filed May 16. 1940 2 Shee ts-Sheet, 1

m mwm W m i an M 1m m: a My z I Feb. 23,1943. E. w. SIHVONEN ETALFLEXIBLE DOOR AND MECHANISM FOR OPERATING THE SAME Feb. 23, 1943. E. w.SIHVONEN EIAL FLEXiBLE DOOR AND MECHANISM FOR.OPERATING THE SAME FiledMay 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTCRS. v wr'mrjdm/lw ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNETED STATES PATENT ()FEICE FLEXIBLE DOOR ANDMECHANISMFOR OPERATING THE SAME Application May 16, 1940, Serial No.335,500

' a door post or jamb l2 at each side thereof and a 10 Claims.

This invention relates to closures for openings in buildings and moreparticularly to closures or doors for garages, storehouses and the like.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision, of a new andimproved flexible door having novel means for forming weatherproofconnections between the sections of the door.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedflexible door together with novel means for flexibly connecting thesections together that form the door.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedflexible or sectional door for garages and the like having novelantifriction bearings for the various door sections and provided withimproved counterbalancing and elevating means for the door.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a new andimproved vertically movable flexible door that is simple inconstruction, inexpensive to manufacture, easily assembled, that may beoperated manually or by power at an expenditure of a minimum amount ofenergy and that is efficient in use and that is so constructed as to beweatherproof.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical section of agarage through the doorway showing the invention in position therein,with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of the garage showing theinvention in position thereon, and with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the motor and a portion of the operatingshaft;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. '7, with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a detail section of a horizontal part of the drawings showingthe upper extension of the door and a portion of the operating mechanismbroken away;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line fi6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line l'! of Fig. l, with parts broken away;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line lfl-ifl of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line I l! I of Fig. 8, with parts brokenaway; and

Fig. 12 is a detail view of a modified form door guide.

Referring now to the drawings, H3 designates a garage or other buildinghaving a doorway ll,

sectional or flexible door l3 for closing the opening. The door i3 isadapted to be so mounted that it may be slid upwardly and thenhorizontally into open position. The door l3 comprises a plurality ofboards or sections M which may be of any suitable material. In the formof the construction shown, which is by way of example only, woodenboards or sections [4 are employed. These sections are arranged toextend horizontally and interengage along their adjacent edges and arepivotally connected together. The boards or sections M are alike exceptfor the upper and lowermost ones and consequently, only one of theintermediate boards or panels need be described.

In the description of the invention, the relative terms upper and lowerand inner and outer will be used to describe the parts as they appearwhen the door is closed or in lowered position, as shown in Fig. 1.

The lower edge of each intermediate section is provided with a groovel5, Fig. 9, and the upper edge with a tongue I6. The tongue of one boardengages the groove of the next adjacent board above. These tongues andgrooves are in the central plane of the boards, as shown in Fig. 9. Theupper, outer edge or shoulder of each board or section l4 extendsvertically downward from the base of the outer. surface of the tongue asubstantial distance and then curves outwardly and downwardly as shownat I! for directing water flowing down onto it from the outer surface ofthe upper adjacent section outwardly tothe outer surface of the board.The upper outer surface of the tongue I6 is curved upwardly and inwardlyfrom its base as at l8 on a radius having a center eccentric to the axisof the hinge so that the tongue and groove will readily separate onbending the door but will tightly engage each other when the sectionsare in ,alinement to provide a tight joint against wind and water, aswill presently appear.

The inner side of the tongue I6 is vertical as shown at l9, Fig. 9,thegroove l5 being correspondingly formed for receiving the tongue. Thestraight vertical edge 20 of the groove engages the vertical edge 19 ofthe tongue for limiting the bending of thedoor sections beyond avertical plane in one direction. The inner meeting edges of the upperand lower boards or sections are beveled off as at 2| and 22,respectively, Fig. 9, to provide clearance for bending the sectionaldoor in the opposite direction. The outer wall or flange 30, Fig. 9, ofthe groove is considerably elongated for overlapping the upper edge ofthe lower reduced portion of the lower adjacent board a substantialdistance so as to insure a tight weatherproof joint under all weatherconditions and even should the boards warp. This extension 30 alsofunctions to limit the hinge movement beyond a vertical plane.

The lower section I4a has a plain lower edge. It is preferably, thoughnot necessarily. rabbeted .11 its outer suriace ad acent its lower edgeror receiving the vertical flange of an angle bar 60 secured thereto inany suitable manner. The horizontal flange of the angle extends beneaththe door, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. This angle bar extends laterallybeyond the side edges of the door into the guideways 32 and 33, as willpresently appear. The uppermost section or board I4?) is likewise squareat its free edge, as shown in Fig. 5.

The boards or sections are adapted to be pivoted or hinged to each otherso that they are free to flex inwardly a predetermined distance. Anysuitable mechanism may be employed for this purpose. In the form of theconstruction shown, each panel at each edge thereof is provided with achannel-shaped bracket 23, Fig. 8, having an upper ofiset extension 24and a bifurcated lower extension 25 having the inner and outer arms 21and 28. The intermediate portion of the bracket 23 is adapted to receivethe intermediate portion of the end of the panel in said channel and issecured thereto in any suitable manner as by means of the screws 26which extend diagonally into the sections, as shown in Fig. 11. Thesechannel members 23 protect the edges of the boards against cracks andsplitting of the boards. The projection 24 of one panel is offsetlaterally to overlap the inner arm 21 of the bifurcated lower projection25 as shown more clearly in Fig. 8 of the drawings. The arms 21 and 28of one panel and the overlapping extensions 24 of the adjacent lowerpanel are provided with aligned openings through which pivot pins 29extend for pivotally connecting the two sections together.

Suitable antifriction rollers 3| are rotatably mounted on the .pivotpins 29 between the arm 28 and the projections 24 at each side edge ofthe board. The lower section 14a is provided adjacent its lower edgewith rollers 3la, Fig. 9, and likewise the upper section l4b, Fig. 5, isalso provided adjacent its free edge with rollers 3|b. The diameters ofthe rollers are the same and are such as to support the sections free ofthe flanges of the track channels, as will presently appear.

Suitable means are provided for guiding the door in its upward andhorizontal movement. As shown on the drawings, channel members,guideways or runways 32 and 33, Fig. 2, are employed for this purpose.The flanges of these channels extend toward each other and are securedto the door posts |2 by .any suitable means such .as the brackets 34.

The tracks, guideways or channels 32 and 33 extend upwardly and are thencurved inwardly as shown at .35. The horizontal portion of the channelmember may be of less depth than the lower portion because the lowerportion has the operating cable therein, as will presently appear. Thehorizontal portion 36 of each track is adapted to be supported byflexible bars 31 which will automatically adjust the tracks under allclimatic conditions. A suitable brace or web member '38, Fig. 1, isprovided at the bend for reinforcing the track at this point. Guide bars3| 0 may be secured to the channel bars for engaging the side edges ofthe rollers 3| for preventing lateral movement of the door.

Suitable means are provided for counter-balancing the weight of the doorand for materially assisting in elevating the same. Any suitablemechanism may be employed for this purpose. s shown on the drawings,spring operated mechanism 39, Fig. 7, is employed for this purpose.Mounted on the channel at the bend thereof, Fig. 4, are the brackets 4|at each side of the door and these brackets are provided with angularrecesses 42 for receiving the outer race 43 of a ball bearing 44, Figs.4 and '7. The inner race of the ball bearing 44, Figs. 4 and 7, isadapted to be secured to a shaft 45 which extends from one channel baracross the doorway to the other channel bar. The race 43 of the ballbearings 44 comprises a pair of rectangular plates 46 and 41 which areadapted to be held together by rivets 48 or the like extending throughthe plates. These plates are loosely mounted in the recesses 42 as shownmore clearly in Figs. 4 and 7 of the drawings. The plates 46 and 41 havealined openings with the marginal edges about the openings bent in theopposite directions to form the outer ball race. This arrangementprovides means whereby the ball bearings may be readily and easilyassembled and attached. They are so constructed that the ball bearingnot only functions as a radial antifriction hearing but also as a thrustbearing for counteracting the thrust of the shaft due to the springthereon. The plates fit loosely in the recess 42 thereby permitting freealinement of the parts. The shaft 45 has a torsion spring 49 extendingabout the same, one end of which is secured to a collar 5| which in turnis rigidly secured to the shaft 45 as by means oi a set screw 52. Thecollar 5| and set screw 52 will cause the tensioning of the spring 49when the shaft is rotated in lowering the door. The opposite ends of thespring 49 are anchored to the bracket 4| as by means of a bolt 53 whichextends through an eye in the spring and is tapped into said bracket.

Rotating members and cables are provided for causing the raising andlowering of the door when the shaft 45 is rotated. In the form of themech anism shown, a sprocket and chain arrangement is employed for thispurpose. Mounted on the ends of the shaft 45 outwardly of the bearingsare suitable sprockets 54 over which are trained a pair of sprocketchains or cables 55. The upper ends of these chains are attached tospring pressed bolts 55 carried by brackets 51 secured to the upperboard of the sectional door, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings.The lower ends of these chains are secured to the lower section E ia ofthe door by any suitable means as by means of the brackets 50. Thebrackets are rigidly secured to the outer ends of the angle bar bysuitable fastening means such as rivets, spot welds, or the like, andthe upper ends of the brackets extend inwardly, as shown at 51, Fig. 11.The inward extension 5'! is provided with notches or recesses 58 on eachedge which form a head 59. The chain or cable which is provided withrectangular links 3| may be attached to the bracket 56 by first turningthe links sidewise, slipping the same over the head 59 and then turningthem vertically so that the vertical portions of the links will engagein the notches 58 and anchor the chain to the bracket.

The chains 55 extend downwardly within the channel guide members 32 and33 laterally of the ends of the door sections. The outer flanges of thechannel track members 32 and 33 are cut away or provided with openings50a at the bends of the track above the vertical portion of the tracksthrough which the chains 55 extend, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thesprings 56a on the bolts 56 will take up the slack in the chain 55.

The tension of the springs may be adjusted, if desired. 1

The parts are so constructed that the spring 49 is under a slightinitial tension when the door is in its uppermost position. When thedoor is lowered, the rod 45 will be rotated and the spring placed undertension thereby counter-balancing the weight of the door. This tensionmay be varied by adjusting the collar 5| on the shaft 45.

Appropriate means are provided for assisting in holding the centralportions of the boards in proper positions and to assist in preventingwarping of the sections. In the form of the construction Selected toillustrate one embodiment of the invention, metallic hinge members areprovided for this purpose. For the intermediate sections of the door,these members are identical and each comprises a rather wide metallicplate 62, Fig. 10, that extends along the interior of the board and hasits upper end bent inwardly along the inclined shoulder 22 as at =63,then vertically upwardly as at 64, along the vertical surface 19 of thetongue 46 and then inwardly and diagonally upwardly to form a hook likeprojection 65. The lower end of the plate 62 is bent inwardly along theinclined shoulder 2! to form a lip '66 in contact with the hook likeprojection 55 on the upper edge of the adjacent lower section. The partsare so constructed that the hook cannot be disengaged except by flexingthe joint further than necessary to move around the curves in thetracks. The vertical portion 64 is somewhat extended so that if theboards warp vertically, it will not aifect the hinge. The lip 65 acts asa fulcrum for forcing the tongue 16 against the projection 33 when theboards are brought into vertical alinement. These hinge members extendthe full height of the door forming a vertical row of hinges and as manyrows as desired may be employed. As shown, a single row along thecentral portion of the door is employed.

Referring to Fig. 9, it will be noted that the axis of the hinges is atthe point where the planes of the surfaces IS and 22 intersect, at 61,whereas the center for the radius for the curve I8 for the tongue [6 isslightly forwardly of 61 so that when the sections are flexed, the partsreadily pull apart but are wedged together when the sections are movedto a common plane.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for rotating the shaft 45 forraising and lowering the door. The door may be raised and loweredmanually, if desired. If the door is to be raised and lowered manually,a sprocket 68 is mounted on the shaft 45 over which is trained the upperloop of an endless sprocket chain 69. By pulling on one side of theloop, the shaft 45 is rotated and this rotates the sprockets 54 forlowering the chains and with them, the door; and, by pulling on theother, the door is raised. Any other appropriate means may be employed,as, for instance, bevel gears and an operating crank and rod may beused. A reversible motor 10 may be provided for rotating the shaft 45,as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, if desired. In this event, the shaft45 is provided with a worm gear H and the motor shaft 12 may be providedwith a worm 13 for engaging the gear for rotating the shaft 45.

It will thus be seen that a door constructed as described above isflexible in one direction, is held rigid against flexing beyond avertical plane in the opposite direction, that the joints between thesections are tight against wind and rain, and that rain or water fallingon the outer surface of the door will be deflected outwardly from thejoints and will flow down the outside of the door. It will also be notedthat all parts of the operating mechanism and all parts of theconstruction, except the sections or boards themselves, are protectedfrom the weather. This is considered an important feature of theinvention.

Instead of using the guide bars for preventing lateral movement of thedoor, two of the sections such as the top and bottom may have attachedto each end thereof antifriction rollers 3ld that extend longitudinallyoutwardly in the planes thereof for engaging the webs of the guidechannels for preventing lateral movement of the door.

It is thought from the foregoing, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, that the. construction and operation of ourdevice will be apparent to those skilled in the art and that changes insize, shape, proportion and detail may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a flexible door for use in garages, a plurality of sectionsextending horizontally edge to edge and having their meeting edgesinterengaging, means for hingedly connecting said sections together tohinge about horizontal axes, rollers of greater diameter than thethickness of said sections rotatably mounted on said means at oppositeends of said sections, the interengaging portions of said sections beingso constructed as to enable the door sections to hinge in one directiononly and to prevent hinge movement beyond the common plane of thesections in the opposite direction, the adjacent edges of the saidsections having a tongue and groove connection, the upper outer edge ofsaid tongue being substantially vertical and the upper forward edge ofsaid tongue being on a curve slightly eccentric to the axis of saidfirst-named means whereby a water-tight joint is formed between adjacentsections when the same are in a vertical plane.

2. A flexible door for garage buildings and the like comprising aplurality of sections, interengaging tongues and grooves between themeeting edges of said sections, means at the ends of said sections forpivotally connecting the sections together, anti-friction rollerscarried by said means and coaxial therewith, the axes of said means androllers being in the planes of said tongues, the upper inner surfaces ofsaid tongues being substantially vertical and the upper outer surface ofsaid tongues being curved about axes slightly in advance of the axes ofsaid pivotal means, and the inner shoulders of adjacent sections beingbeveled off whereby said door may flex in one direction only and thetongues be wedged in the grooves to form a weatherproof joint betweenthem when the adjacent sections are moved into a common plane.

3. In a building having a door opening, a door j amb at each side ofsaid opening, channel runways attached to the inner sides of said doorjambs and having their upper portions curved inwardly, a flexible doorhaving its sections extending horizontally, hinge members at each sideedge of the door for pivotally connecting said sec tions together, thelower section having its upper edge in the form of a tongue with itsupper surface curved on its outer side and engaging in a correspondingrecess in the lower edge of the adjacent upper section, the inner faceof said tongue being vertical for engaging a vertical marginal wall ofsaid groove and the outer flange or wall of said groove being extendedfor engaging the outer surface of the lower adjacent board forpreventing flexing the sections beyond the vertical in one direction,the axis of curvature of the upper surface of said tongue beingeccentric to the axis of the corresponding hinge for wedging said tonguein said recess when said door is in lowered position, means carried byhinge members for engaging the flanges of said channel runways forguiding said door and for holding the door sections in verticalalignment when the door is in lowered position, and means for raisingand lowering said door.

4. A flexible door comprising a plurality of comparatively narrowhorizontal sections having their meeting edges interengaging,overlapping hinge members on the vertical edges of said sections at theends thereof, hinge pivots for connecting said members together, rollerson said pivots, hinge elements having hook-like metallic members on theupper edges of said sections and extending between said interengagingedges, and other hinge elements having downwardly and outwardlyextending projections on the adjacent sections above for engaging saidhook-like elements on the adjacent section below for hinging the centralportions of said sections together and. for preventing warping of saidsections.

5. In a building having a door opening therein, a flexible verticallymovable door for said opening, means for raising and lowering said door,said door comprising sections arranged edge to edge, the meeting edgesof said sections having a tongue and groove engagement at their adjacentedges, the tongue being on the lower section and having its upper edgecurved inwardly on a predetermined radius and engaging in acorresponding groove, means for pivotally connecting said sectionstogether to swing about an axis eccentric to the curvature of saidtongue for providing a wedging action between the tongue and groovefolforming a water-tight joint, the outer shoulder of said tongue beingcut away in a curve whereby water flowing down from the outer side ofthe next adjacent board above said tongue will be directed by suchcurved surface to the outer plane surface of the lower section.

6. In a building having a door opening therein, a flexible verticallymovable door for said opening, means for raising and lowering said door,said door comprising sections arranged edge to edge, the meeting edgesof said sections having an interlocking connection between said sectionsso constructed that when the sections are in alinement the interlockingconnection will fit snugly together to form a weather-tight joint andcapable of being flexed only in one direction, and hinge members securedto said sections at their central portions, said members comprising anextension on one section engaging a hook-like projection on the adjacentsection, said extension having a limited vertical sliding movement onsaid hooklke member for compensating for vertical warping of saidsections and for preventing undue warping thereof, said hook-likeprojection extending between the parts of said interlocking connection.

'7. In a building having a door opening, channel guideways at each sideof said opening extending upwardly and then curved to extendhorizontally, a flexible door having its side edges movable in saidchannel guideways, said flexible door comprising a plurality ofcomparatively narrow horizontally arranged sections, hinges at the endsof the sections for connecting them together, the adjacent edges of saidsections interengaging and wedged together when the door is in operativeposition, said interengaging portions of said sections having a portionon a curve slightly eccentric to the axis of said hinges whereby theinterengaging edges are wedged together when the door is in verticalposition, rollers mounted on the hinges of said sections and engaging insaid channel guideways for holding said sections in vertical alignmentwith said meeting edges wedged together when the door is in loweredposition.

8. In a building having a door opening, channel guideways at each sideof said opening extending upwardly and then curved to extendhorizontally, a flexible door having its side edges movable in saidchannel guideways, said flexible door comprising a plurality ofcomparatively narrow horizontally arranged sections, hinges at the endsof the sections for connecting them together, the adjacent edges of saidsections interengaging and wedged together when the door is in operativeposition, said interengaging portions of said sections having a portionon a curve slightly eccentric to the axis of said hinges whereby theinterengaging edges are wedged together when the door is in verticalposition, rollers mounted on the hinges of said sections and engaging insaid channel guideways for holding said sections in vertical alignmentwith said meeting edges wedged together when the door is in loweredposition, a rotating shaft, a sprocket on each end portion of said shaftabove said channels, a sprocket chain extending along each side edge ofthe door Within said channels and attached to the ends of said door andextending over said sprockets, and a spring interposed in each chain formaintaining the same taut for holding said interengaging portions ofsaid sections in tight engagement in all positions of said door.

9. In a building having a door opening, channel guideways at each sideof said opening extending upwardly and then curved to extendhorizontally, a flexible door having its side edges movable in saidchannel guideways, said flexible door comprising a plurality ofcomparatively narrow horizontally arranged sections, hinges at the endsof the sections for connecting them together, the adjacent edges of saidsections interengaging and wedged together when the door is in operativeposition, said interengaging portions of said sections having a portionon a curve slightly eccentric to the axis of said hinges whereby theinterengaging edges are wedged together when the door is in verticalposition, rollers mounted on the hinges of said sections and engaging insaid channel guideways for holding said sections in vertical alignmentwith said meeting edges wedged together when the door is in loweredposition, a rotating shaft, a sprocket on each end portion of said shaftabove said channels, a sprocket chain extending along ach side edge ofthe door within said channels and attached to the ends of said door andextending over said sprockets, a spring interposed in each chain formaintaining the same taut for holding said interengaging portions ofsaid sections in tight engagement in all positions of said door, andspring means for resiliently resisting the rotation of said shaft whensaid door is lowered.

10. In a building having a door opening, channel guideways at each sideof said opening extending upwardly and then curved to extendhorizontally, a flexible door having its side edges movable in saidchannel guideways, said flexible door comprising a plurality ofcomparatively narrow horizontally arranged sections, hinges at the endsof the sections for connecting them together, the adjacent edges of saidsections interengaging and wedged together when the door is in operativeposition, said interengaging portions of said sections having a portionon a curve slightly eccentric to the axis of said hinges whereby theinterengaging edges are wedged together when the door is in verticalposition, rollers mounted on the hinges of said sections and engaging insaid channel guideways for holding said sections in vertical alignmentwith said meeting edges wedged together when the door is in loweredposition, a rotating shaft, a sprocket on each end portion of said shaftabove said channels, a sprocket chain extending along each side edge ofthe door within said channels and attached to the ends of said door andextending over said sprockets, a spring interposed in each chain formaintaining the same taut for holding said interengaging portions ofsaid sections in tight engagement in all positions of said door, springmeans for resiliently resisting the rotation of said shaft when saiddoor is lowered, and means for raising and lowering said door, saidmeans comprising mechanism for rotating said shaft whereby in bothraising and lowering said door said interengaging portions of saidsections will be forced toward each other.

EMIL W. SIHVONEN. MATT PEHKONEN.

